Judy (left) and Liu Shiliang pose for a picture to commemorate their relationship. Liu is wearing a bandage on his head because of an injury.(Source: China Daily)

    BEIJING, June 21 -- Liu Shiliang comes from an unremarkable family of farmers in Anhui Province. Judy is an American with a degree from Harvard University and a former employee of UNESCO.

    The spatial and cultural gap that separated these two for most of their lives might seem insurmountable, but that did not stop them from marrying.

    In July 1998, Judy, at the time a third-year university student and an intern at UNESCO, was assigned to China to research the country's tourism resources. After spending time in Beijing and Shanghai, her research eventually brought her to Hefei, capital of Anhui Province.

    One day, Judy stopped by a post office in Hefei to mail her research report back to the United States. However, the many windows providing different postal services proved confusing, and Judy was at a loss as to how to proceed. That was when Liu, a security guard, approached and offered to help.

    As he talked with the young woman, Liu discovered that she was planning to take a train to Huangshan Mountain, a famous tourism spot in Anhui, on the following day. Liu told her exactly how to get to the railway station.

    But his assistance did not stop there. Worried that Judy would get lost in the strange city, Liu waited for her at her hotel and then escorted her to the railway station.

    Judy was deeply touched by this display of honesty and kindness and mailed Liu a post card from Huangshan Mountain to express her gratitude.

    They kept in close contact by letter and gradually became good friends.

    In the summer of 1999, Judy returned to China - this time to visit Liu. They had such a good time in Hefei that Judy could not help but cry when the vacation was over and she had to return to the United States. Just as her train back to Beijing was leaving the station, Liu jumped aboard so he could accompany Judy all the way to the airport. Judy was overwhelmed by the gesture, though it cost Liu his job.

    Judy graduated from Harvard in 2000 and came to Beijing to work for a year. That year Liu brought Judy back to his home village. The American girl, who was fascinated by Chinese folk culture and had studied the Chinese language for many years, loved the experience. She helped harvest crops, cook and even learnt how to make dumplings. Local villagers were curious about the foreign girl and surrounded Liu's home every day just to look at her.

    Judy eventually had to return to the United States to work for five years, but the distance did not affect their love.

    Earlier this year, Judy returned to China and Liu decided to ask her to marry him. Judy said yes. They plan to hold a traditional wedding on July 7, the ninth anniversary of the date they first met.

    Liu now owns a logistics company in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. He told the Anhui Business News that he had designed a wedding gown for Judy that was decorated with 1,999 diamonds to express his long-lasting love.

    (Source: China Daily)